standby

or stand-by

[ stand-bahy ]

/ ˈstændˌbaɪ /

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See synonyms for standby on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural stand·bys.

a staunch supporter or adherent; one who can be relied upon.

something upon which one can rely and therefore choose or use regularly.

something or someone held ready to serve as a substitute, especially a radio or television program used as a filler in case of cancellation of a regularly scheduled program.

a traveler who is waiting for last-minute accommodations to become available on a plane, train, or other transport as a result of a cancellation.

adjective

kept readily available for use in an emergency, shortage, or the like: a standby player.

of or relating to last-minute accommodations, the transport that offers them, or a traveler who is waiting for them: a standby flight.

of or relating to a waiting period.

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Idioms about standby

on standby, in a state of readiness to act, respond, or be used immediately when needed.

Origin of standby

First recorded in 1790–1800; noun, adj. use of verb phrase stand by

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use standby in a sentence

To be a liberal, you have to stand up for liberal principles.
Bill Maher: Hundreds of Millions of Muslims Support Attack on ‘Charlie Hebdo’|Lloyd Grove|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And with stand-ups, I remember liking George Carlin and Steve Martin.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Those opposing same-sex marriage are on their heels, and increasingly unwilling or unable to make a stand against it.
‘Only God’ Can Stop Gay Marriage|Tim Mak|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Spencer, 27, is variously described as a writer and a stand-up comic.
Meet Stephen Fry’s Future Husband (Who Is Less Than Half His Age)|Tom Sykes|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Another read: “We need leaders who will stand against Common Core.”
Rand Paul’s Passive-Aggressive Trolling Campaign|Olivia Nuzzi|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
All along the highways and by-paths of our literature we encounter much that pertains to this "queen of plants."
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
She stood, in her young purity, at one end of the chain of years, and Mrs. Chepstow—did she really stand at the other?
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
But the liberal soul deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall he stand.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe
All bribery, and injustice shall be blotted out, and fidelity shall stand for ever.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
It is only necessary to have a zinc, or a galvanized tray on which to stand the glass in an inverted position.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin

British Dictionary definitions for standby

stand by

verb

(intr, adverb) to be available and ready to act if needed or called upon

(intr, adverb) to be present as an onlooker or without taking any actionhe stood by at the accident

(intr, preposition) to be faithful toto stand by one's principles

(tr, adverb) English law (of the Crown) to challenge (a juror) without needing to show cause

noun stand-by

a person or thing that is ready for use or can be relied on in an emergency
(as modifier)stand-by provisions

on stand-by in a state of readiness for action or use

adjective

(of an airline passenger, fare, or seat) not booked in advance but awaiting or subject to availability

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with standby

stand by

Be ready or available to act, as in I'm almost ready for you to carve the turkey, so please stand by. [Mid-1200s]

Wait for something to resume, as in We are all standing by until the power is restored. Also see on standby.

Be present but remain uninvolved, refrain from acting, as in I can't stand by and see these kids shoplifting. [Late 1300s]

Remain loyal, as in She's my friend and I'll stand by her, no matter what. [Early 1500s] Also see stick by.

Adhere to, abide by, as in I'm going to stand by what I said yesterday. [Late 1300s]